The origin is--as I understand it--is that the U.S. used amphibious vehicles (vehicles that could propel themselves on dry surfaces as well as -in the water) during World War II. These vehicles were nicknamed "ducks" because of their amphibious qualities. The tape that was used to repair these vehicles, thereby came to be called, "duck tape".

In Wisconsin, U.S.A 'ducks' are used to transport people from place to place in the Wisconsin Dells area. In a recent year, they were used to help in the case of a nearby major flood caused by failure of the dam (due to 'mother-nature' flood-waters) at a man-made lake.

I'm not at all sure the tape is currently marketed in the U.S. (if elsewhere) as Duct Tape.